Hosted by Bass Liberal MHR Bridget Archer, the event aimed to raise awareness about melanoma in the community at the start of summer.

John Reddin had a melanoma misdiagnosed, and by the time it was diagnosed it was a stage four metastatic melanoma that was right through his body.

He was given six months to live, but that was seven years ago.

"And 12 months ago, they gave me another six months to live. So I've lived my used by date twice," he said.

He said the cancer had a tremendous impact on his life.

"All the drugs have very different side effects for different people and they were horrific with me. I was hospitalised many, many times. Ambulance had to come and get me. I had poison in the liver and all sorts of things. It was horrific," he said.

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Mr Reddin's melanoma was just a lump under his skin, with no colour at all. He urged anyone with a lump to get it checked by a doctor.

He is still undergoing treatment, and says he is absolutely not cancer free.

"I had a PET scan five weeks ago. And I still have eight lesions in my body, three of which are new. And I've been on treatments for seven years," he said.

Melanoma Patients Tasmania partnered with Ms Archer to host the function, with the organisation's chief executive Victoria Beedle saying despite the warnings people continue to develop melanoma.

Skin Cancer Tasmania founder and chair Di Mason said the number of people getting their skin checked had risen.

"We also know that the incidence of melanoma has gone up whether that's as a result of the population getting their skin checked more frequently, or whether it's just the fact that we have an aging population, which is driving up the incidence naturally, we won't be too sure on that."

Melanoma is the most common form of cancer for people aged 15 to 39 in Australia, but it is also high and increasing amongst Australians over 60 years old.

This means the nation has has the highest rate of melanoma in the world.

More than 15,000 Australians are diagnosed with melanoma and 1,700 lose their lives to melanoma each year.

However, if it's detected early, more than 90 per cent of melanoma cases can be successfully treated with surgery. Any time the UV is above three, people are urged to take protective measures for their skin.

Ms Archer said people need to know that even though it doesn't feel very hot, the risk of melanoma is still very high.

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